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A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

mattermark.com

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Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#411

Post by mcv »

eranation wrote: post #33

This is great, except the over the weekend part. I have a wife and kids, I rather be with them than solve (even paid) challenges. I rather take half a day off, solve it right there in the environment and team that will potential work with you. I would encourage candidates to also reach out with questions during the challenge and see how they communicate ideas and react to suggestions. Other than that, completely agre…

I think it makes sense to discuss which schedule works best for the applicant. Maybe they prefer to do it during the week, maybe they prefer to do it right there and then.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#412

Post by silverbax88 »

I think the current interview process fails but...this idea of seeing if people can code a small project isn't much better - it might be worse. It's a lot different giving someone a tiny project to knock out in a weekend and working with them for weeks during crunch time, or getting estimates, or just if they are a good workmate. You're basing an entire hiring decision on whether the person can write some queries and a page?

I mean, I like the idea of proving what I can do, but software development - as in most jobs - are far more than technical ability.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#413

Post by md81544 »

naterr wrote: post #386
zachd1_618 wrote: post #49

This. 100% this. As many others are saying, I find that this is the most comfortable way for me as an interviewee to demonstrate that I do in fact know what I'm talking about. Put me in front of a room full of people and a whiteboard and throw something at me, and I'll freeze. Freezing in that situation and being a bad engineer are wholly separate things. Anecdotally, when I get one of these problems, I spent 20 minu…

I'm a subconscious problem solver also, I do it on purpose alot of the time, I can solve some things immediately but most of the time I get it later in the day when I go back to it or let the answer come to me.

Yes, me too. I often find far better solutions to problems after backing off and deliberately not thinking about the issue.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#414

Post by codazoda »

snsr wrote: post #360
walshemj wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually its common for many if not all employers to ban outside work with out approval from your manager.

Which is bullshit and absolutely none of their business.

And also not very enforceable in some areas. I got legal advice on this from my own attorney some 20 years ago. I had created a piece of software on the side while working under a contract that said something similar. The software took off and I was worried about it. He advised me that worst case would be paying the company the money I earned while under that contract, but even that was a stretch.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#415

Post by [deleted] »

patrickdavey wrote: post #311
mahyarm wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We only expect you to make what is possible in 2 hours, and we've seen a bunch of similar exercises. It doesn't have to be poor quality, just basic. Usually the UX isn't expected to look nice at all either.

So in 2 hours (according to the article, not this comment) you expect a candidate to deliver a functional reactive single page javascript app, with localstorage offline storage, searching (perhaps with filtering over a "category" model also), responsive, ideally with some form of test coverage & tested on multiple platforms. I have a long way to go it seems! It would definitely take me more than 2 hours to do that to…

[deleted]

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#416

Post by mcv »

jon-wood wrote: post #342
eranation wrote: post #33

This is great, except the over the weekend part. I have a wife and kids, I rather be with them than solve (even paid) challenges. I rather take half a day off, solve it right there in the environment and team that will potential work with you. I would encourage candidates to also reach out with questions during the challenge and see how they communicate ideas and react to suggestions. Other than that, completely agre…

I'll second that. When interviewing for jobs recently the sheer volume of tasks being handed out to prove I can program was a real problem - I work five days a week, my wife works Saturdays and I look after our son. That leaves an hour here or there available in the evenings (when I'll do a bad job because its 10:30pm), or taking a chunk of time out of the only real time we get together as a family. If you apply for…

The advantage of being paid for this is that you should be able to afford taking time off from a paid job.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#417

Post by walshemj »

moron4hire wrote: post #317
walshemj wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Custom and practice - you need to read your company handbook /contract some time.

Work agreements are really easy to modify before you sign them. And I don't have an employee handbook. I own my own business.

Only if your Beyoncé and can demand a bucket of kittens in you dressing room before a show - the rest of us less so?

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#418

Post by clifanatic »

CSMastermind wrote: post #337

There's no chance I would consider a job that required me to do this.

I wouldn't say no chance, but I definitely wouldn't go through this for some no-name "startup". It would have to be a high-profile position at a pretty exciting company.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#419

Post by RandomOpinion »

blowski wrote: post #240
stillworks wrote: post #235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't care about getting paid. I don't care if I am doing it at home or in the interviewer's premises. Don't let me connect to internet. I'll also leave my phone with you just to make sure I don't have access to the internet. I don't mind taking the time away from current employment to go through the process. BUT PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE THOUGH WHILE I AM AT IT. FOR GOD'S SAKE DON"T SIT NEXT TO ME AND TALK TO ME OR EX…

Sounds like I'm completely the opposite of you! I'm fine with someone sitting next to me - I love pair programming. But cutting off internet access means no StackOverflow, no online documentation. The test should be very similar to normal working conditions.

>I love pair programming

Yes, but do you love pair programming:

-with a person you met less than 5 minutes ago?

-on a non-standard programming task you've been given less than a minute to think about?

-with a person who is focused on assessing you rather than assisting you?

-with your future job at stake and potentially your ability to ever interview at that company again at stake as well?

I enjoy pair programming too but I still choke on whiteboard programming questions during interviews. And this is after 20 years in the industry.

Re: A Method I’ve Used to Eliminate Bad Tech Hires

#420

Post by Humdeee »

LoSboccacc wrote: post #268
blowski wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tax authorities usually don't care about a one-off small payment.

where I live you are allowed to gain up to 5k year for 'hobby' projects that you do on the side.

I was pretty happy to find this out recently. It was a non-tech person who brought it to my attention actually. It's definitely motivation to monetize some small projects I've had in mind for a while now.
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